File for letters and papers



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,. W. A. COOKE, Jr., & C. S. COOKE.

PILE POR LETTERS AND PAPERS, &o.

No. 366,817. Patented July 19, 1887.

lNvENToRs;

ATTORNEY WITN ESSES: /ffwzz @No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 2.

W. A. COOKE, Jr., 8v O. S. COOKE.

FILE EOE LETTERS AND PAPERS, 5w. 110.366,81?. Patented July 19, 1887.

` INVENTOES; O y @MwnW/f/ ATTORNEY NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

YILLAM A. COOKE, JR., AND CHARLES S. COOKE, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

FILE FOR LETTERS AND PAPERS, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,817, dated July 19. 1887.

Application filed January 10, l1887. Serial No. QQ'LSQO. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. COOKE, J r., and CrLiELEs S. COOKE, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful File for Letters, Papers, Bills, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention appertains to paper-files in which provision is made for removing or exio amining any of the papers on the files without displacing or disarranging other papers on the same file, and for the orderly arrangement of papers as they are received or accumulate, under dates, titles, or other methods of classification, so that papers bearing on the same or cognate subjects may be filed together, and any paper may be inspected or taken from and replaced in the file without disordering or ren moving other papers in the same or other 2o classes.

These files consist, essentially, of a fixed tubular or solid wire or needle, on which the papers areimpaled, and a movable curved or arched wire,called the transfer or keeper wire, one end of which is movable to and from the fixed wire. Vhen it is desired to remove orinspect a paper On the le in an intermediate class, or which has been filed under other papers or classes, or to file a paper in a 3o special class or undera certain date, the superimposed papers may be transferred to the movable wire without disarranging their order and the exposed paper inspected; orif the paper is to be removed or another paper filed, the transfer or keeper wire, with the papers, may be turned out of conjunction with the fixed wire and the paper taken off or filed, as the case may be.

Our presentin'iprovenients are a continuation of or an addition to the invention described and claimed i'n an application for Patent, No. 205,579, filed June 1S, 1886, for files for letters, papers, bills, &c. rihe invention described and claimed in said application con 43 sists in connecting the transfer or keeper wire with a tubular socket by means of asliding and vibrating-joint, or a iointformcd by means of a slot in the tube, and a pin on the stem of the transferwire, and joining the latter with 'movable transfer or keeper wire.

the fixed wire by interlocking its detachable and movable end with the fixed wire.

rlhe objects of our present invention are, first, to do away with the slotted tube and pin, and thus economize the manu facture ofthe file; second, to make the connections of the transfer or keeper wire with its base more stable, firm, and positive; third, to preventthc transfer orkeepcr wire from closing or moving when opened to its full extent; fourth, to make the transfer-wire self-closing after being released or receiving` an impulse in the direction of closing.

In the accompanying` drawings, Figure 1. represents a perspective View of our improved file in d uplex form, Fig. 2,a vertical longitndiA nal section ofthe same, Fig. 3,a horizontal scction O11 line x .r ofFig. 2, Fig. 1, a perspective View ofthe stationary devices which control the Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section, and Fig. G a horizontal section, taken on line y 1/ of Fig. 5, of a modification of the improvedfile. Figs. 7, S, 9 represent thc improvements in the f'orm of a single file. Figs. 10,11 represent different methods ofi nterlocking the fixed and movable wires.

Referring to the drawings, the tablet A may be made of wood, paper, board, or other suitable material, and of any suitable and convenient size. It may also be arranged as a drawer, so that it can be placed in a case or cabinet. The fixed and movable wires are connected with suitable bases, which are preferably, but not necessarily, cast in one with or connected together by a cast-1neta1 plate, B, of any tasteful design, which is constructed so that it can be attached to the tablet by screws or by any other suitable and convenient means. The plate and Fling mechanism being thus con! nected together may be easily detached from the tabletfor convenience of packing and ship pino'.

Plate B, if used, has a flange, a, around its edge, which raises it slightly above the tablet and thus forms a space, 1; but this is not essential.

The fixed or impaling wires 2, as shown in Fig. 2, are tubular, and their tops or upper ends are beveled oft' to a point,\vhieh facilitates puncturing the papers when they are not previously perforated for filing, as may be done. The tubular form of the said wires is not, however, essential, as will appear presently. The bases 3 for the fixed wires are merely bosses with sockets, in which the lower ends of said wires are inserted and securely fastened. The bases 4 for the movable wires are hollow and of pyramidal form, and within them are a conical chamber, 5, and a cylindrical chamber, 6, in the top of which is inserted a tube, 7 ,which serves as a guide or sleeve for the transferwire. The chamber receives the stationary y parts which govern the position and movement of' the transfer-wire, and the chamber 6 is a seatfor the spring which controls the said wire. The transfer or keeper wires 9 are arched in the usual manner. One leg, b,\vhieh is considably longer than the other, connects with` the base4 and forms the axis on which the shorter end, c, vibrates. The leg I) i s inserted in the sleeve or guide 7 and extends down into chamber 5, its end being provided with a foot, 10, and aspiral spring, s, is coiled around the stem, its lowen end" being fastened to the stem by soldering or in any other secure manner, and `its upper end bearing against the top of chamber 6. The spring holds the transfer-wire down and keeps its free end c iii conjunction with the fixed wire orA needle when closed, steadies its motion when being opened, andwhen closing throws it vin conjunction with the fixed wire.

Adetachable foot-plate,11, is connected with the under side of plate B, at the rear thereof, and in. position to cover the chambers 5 ofthe bases 4, the ends of said plate being rounded so as to fit within the flange which passes around fhe edge of the bases. (See Figsj and 4.) The flange prevents the plate from turning or slipping, and it is otherwise fastened in place by means of a centrally-placed screw, d, passed up into plate B, as shown -in Fig. 5; On plate l1 are the stationary devices which control the position of the transfer-wires. These consist of a step, 12, and a stop, 13, preferably cast upon plate 11, and in position to enter the chamber understand 4 when the plate is inposition. Stop 13 prevents the transfer-wire from turning the wrong way, and from striking or bearing against the fixed wire; but step 12 has certain peculiarities of construction which are clearly illustrated by Fig. 4, and have for their object to control the movement of' the transfer-wire. For this purpose the step is preferably curved into nearly the segment of a circle, either concentric or eccentric-to the axis of the stem of the transfer-wire. Its u pper edge is formed into three partsviz., a stop, e, a horizontal or straight surface or edge, f, and an inclined edge, Lr/,which t'erminates above the plate a definite distance, thereby leaving the endl 7L at right angles to the plate and terminated short of a line joining the-adjacent side of the transfer-wire with the fixed- Wire. Betweenend h and the adjacent end of projection 13 is a slot, 14, on the side next to and in line with the fixed wire, and in this slot the foot 10 is held when the end of the transfer-wire is in conjunction with the fixed wire. lVhile it is preferred that the step 12 shall have an inclined edge or surface, g, this is not essential to our invention, and the straight surface may be continued to the end in some cases, which will be referred to presently. The object of inelining the edge is to make the transfer-wire self-acting in its vibratory motion when closing to a certain extent-that is, after moving it sufficiently to clear the holding-point, (the edge f,) the pressure of the spring,` combined with the incline on which the foot presses, will cause the free ende to swing around into alignment with the fixed wlre.

Thetransfer-wirc attainsits closed positionthat is, with its free end telescoped, interloeked, or in positive connection with the fixed wire-by two movements-viz., a vibratory vmovement on its axis, the stem b, and a longitudinal movementin sequence; and it is opened by the same motions reversed.

The operation is as follows: ln'the duplex files thc arched transfer orrkeeper wires have no connection with each other, and are there- -fore operated'scparately. The closed position is clearly represented by Figs. 1 and 2, the latter showing the free end of the transferwire interlocked with the fixed wire. To open the file, the movable or transfer wire is first lifted until its free end. c clears the end of the fixed wire (if beveled, until it clears it on the side from which it is turned) and the foot 10 clears the end It of step 12. These positions areindicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 2. The transfer-wire is now vibrated and the free end diverged from the fixed wire until the foot. 10 is arrested by the stop e and rests upon the edge f, where it is held by thepressure ofthe spring s forcibly enough to prevent the trans- Afer-wire,which is thus held open, from moving.

To close the transfer-wire, it is vibrated or swung in the opposite di reetion until the free end aligns with the fixed wire and the foot clears the end h of the step, when the pressure of the spring automatically throws it downward and conjoins or interlocks the free end of the movable wire with the top of the fixed wire, where,by the pressure of the spring, it is held against longitudinal movement, and against lateral movement by the step 12 and stop 13, between which the foot 10 rests in the slot 14. When an inclined edge,f, is given to the step, the vibratory motion of'elosing may be partly automatic also; as when the foot is cleared from the horizontal edge f the pressure of the spring will cause the foot to slide down the incline g, Fig. 2, and, when it clears it, drop into the notch or slot 14.

The steps and stops on the foot-plate 11, Figs. 1 and 2, are'arranged so that the transfer-wires are opened by being swung outward;

but it is obvious that by making the stop 13 ICO vl IO IIS exactly like the step 12 the transfer-wire may be arranged to open in either direction. This construction, however, would only be advantageously applicable to single files, like that shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9; and if so made the upper cud of the fixed wire should be squared off and not beveled.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a flat spring, is substituted for the spiral spring,to control the transfer wii'es. In this case the bases are connected and the chambers 5 extended laterally to a partition, fi', which forms a part of the plate B. The fiat spring is laid over the plate 11 and secured by the screw el driven into i.

The step 12, in the representation ofthe single file, Figs. 7, S, 9, has no inclined edge g; but, as shown, ithas a slightinclination from the stop c. This inclination is not euougli to cause the spring to move the foot automatically, but by giving the transfer-wire a slight impulse it will continue in motion until it closes.

Vhen a solid fixed wire is substituted for the tubular, the locking connections shown in Figs. 1 0, 11 may be employed.

The sleeve or guide 7 is made `from tubing, and should be of the same diameter as the fixed wire, in order that it will enter the per forations made in the papers for or by the fixed wire. This sleeve or guide furnishes a long bearing or support for the stem of the transfer-wire, and thus gives it steadiness and guards it against lateral play or motion, all which are quite essential to make the transferwire work with accuracy. At the same time it does not reduce the capacity of the stem to take all the papers that may be transferred to it from the fixed wire.

7e claim- 1. In paper-files, the combination of a base, an arched wire having one end connected with the base and the opposite end free, the said wire being susceptible of longitudinal and vibratory motion in sequence, a fixed wire with which the free end of' the arched wire interloeks when in alignment therewith, and a spring which steades the movement of the arched wire and holds it when opened and closed, and, when its free end aligns with the fixed wire, automatically moves the arched wire longitudinally and causes its free end to interlock with the fixedwire, substantially as 4 4, two separate arched transfer or keeper wires, 9 9, each having its leg b connected with one of the said bases and the other end free, said wires each being susceptible of positive longitudinal and vibratory motion in sequence, fixed wires 2 2, and bases 3 3, the free ends of the movable wires interlocking with the fixed wires when aligned therewith, and springs which connect with the movable wires, steadying them in their movements and holding them when open and closed, and, when their free ends align with tlie-fixed wires, automatically move the arched wires longitudinally and cause their free ciids to interlock with the fixed wires, substantially as specified.

4. The combination ot the fixed wire 2, the arched transfer or keeper wire 9, connected with a suitable base and susceptible of being moved vertically and vibratedaxially therein and provided with the foot 10, and the step 12, having its end ,h terminated short of a line joining the adjacent side of the Vfoot l0 and the fixed wire, substantially as specified.

5. The combination ofa fixed'wire,an arched transfer or keeper wire connected with a snitable base and susceptible of being moved longitudinally and vibrated axially in its base, and provided with a foot, 10, and a step, 12, having its end li terminated short ofa lnejoining the adjacent side of the foot and the fixed wire and provided with a stop, e, substantially as specified.

(i. The combination ofa fixed wire,an arched transfer or keeper wire connected with a suitable base and susceptible of longitudinal and Vibratory movement therein, and provided with a foot, 10, and a step, 12, having a hori- Zoiital edge,f, and inclined edge g, substantially as specified.

7. The combination ofa fixed wire,an arched transfer or keeper wire connected with a suitable base and susceptible of longitudinal and vibratory movement therein, and provided with a foot, 10, a step, 12, a stop, 13, and a slot, 14, between the step 12 and the adjacent end of the stop, substantially as specified.

S. The combination of the arched transfer or keeper wire connected with a suitable base and susceptible of being moved vertically and vibrated axially therein, and provided with a foot, 10, the step l2, and the spring s, substair tially as specified.

` 9. The combination of the fixed wire, the longitudinally-niovable and vibratory transfer or keeper wire provided with the foot 10, the hollow pyramidal base 4, andthe foot-plate ll, provided with the step 1.2, substantially as specified.

10. The combination of the fixed wire, the longitudinally-movable and vibratory transfer or keeper wire provided with thc foot 10, the hollow pyramidal base 4, andthe foot-plate 11, provided with the step 12 and stop 13, and the foot notch or slot 14 between them, substantially as specified.

11. The combination of the two 'fixed wires,

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" the movable transfer or keeper wires, the hol- In testimony that We claim the foregoing as xo low pyramidztl bases 4 4, and the detachable our invention We have hereunto set our hands plate 11, with the steps 12 12 and stoas 13 13 I this Sth day of January, 1887.

east thereon, substantially as speciie i 5 l2. The combination of the tubular sleeve SA' ggg JR' v v or guide 7 with the longitudinallymoving and Y laterally-vibrating transfer or keeper wire c0n- In presence of specified.

nected with a suitable base, substantially as I TSAAC P. HUBBARD,

l VILTON C. DoNN. 

